Republican-Led U.S. Congressional Committee Recommends Holding Secretary of State Blinken in Contempt
In a controversial move, the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee voted 26-25 to recommend that Secretary of State Antony Blinken be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena regarding the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The committee, led by Republicans, accused Blinken of not appearing at a hearing and failing to provide necessary information.
The political divide was evident as every Republican member voted in favor of the recommendation while all Democrats opposed it. Blinken, currently in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, defended his absence by citing high-level diplomatic engagements.
While the State Department denounced the committee’s decision as a “naked political exercise,” committee chairman Republican Representative Michael McCaul emphasized the importance of Blinken’s testimony in understanding the failures surrounding the chaotic evacuation. The refusal to testify may lead to potential criminal prosecution, although the Justice Department would make the final decision.
The issue has stirred up political tensions ahead of the upcoming presidential election, with former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris being dragged into the blame game. Despite providing extensive records and testimonies in the past, Blinken’s unwillingness to appear before Congress has sparked controversy and raised questions about accountability.